Starring at Ropewalk

Just arrived at Ropewalk ready for Christmas this new Marc Kitchen – Smith stock: Metal Barn Stars.  Painted in red, green, blue, mustard, black and white.   As featured in December’s Period Living.  Available in two sizes, 112cms and 76cms.

These stars are not old, but made in the traditional way in rural North America. They are constructed from reclaimed barn zinc. Originally stars like these were mounted onto the outside walls of farm buildings by European and Scandinavian immigrants to America , such as the Amish and Menonites, in the 18th and 19th centuries. In the superstitious belief that they would ward off demons and witch spells that might enter the barns to sour their crops or sicken their livestock. For more on apotropaic shapes please see the earlier LASSCO News piece ‘Here be Witchcraft’.